Electric animal-exterminator.



H. M. VETTERLEIN. 'ELEGTRIO ANIMAL EXTERMINATOR.

AIPLIUATION FILED MAR. 20, 1912' Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

?@ 'vtmcosco UNITED strntrns PATENT oninon HENRY M. VETTERLEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 ADAM C. FRENCH LAND ONE-THIRD TO RUDOI F (31ENZI.I|EN1\l'I.AI4 WASSERSCHEID, OF NEW- YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1912. Serial lilo. 684,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. VETTER- LEIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in New Yo-rk, bo-rough of Manhatt-an, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Animal-Exterminators,

I of which the following is a specification.

, nator can be readily removed and the device restored to its original efiective capacity.

The invention consists of an electric animal exterminator, the foundation-plate of which is molded, pressed and vulcanized into any required shape and made of suitable insulating material, and either made of one or more sections into which are em bedded a system of parallel conductors, d1-

vided into series or groups, of which the conductors ofeach group are at a suitable distance from each other and the groups again separated from each other, one series or group of parallel conductors being connect ed with a positive pole of a source of electrical energy and the other series or groups of parallel conductors with the negative pole of the same, said exterminator being made of two or more sections which are connected by hinges so that they can be folded up for storage and shipment. The groups of parallel conductors of one polarity connected with each other by means of leading in wires which are located in a groove running along one side of the foundation-plate, said groove being covered by a plate or strip of insulating material. The invention consists further of an electric animal exterminator arranged in two or more sections which are hinged or otherwise connected at their adjacen.- edges and formed of a foundation-plate of insulating material, two parallel groups of conductors embedded in said plate, one group being connected with the positive and the other group with the negative pole of a suitable source of electrical energy, andingoing and outgoing wires aid connections for the same, said wires being arranged in recesses I which are molded in the adjacent edges of said hinged and electrically-connected sections. The underside of the foundationplate is preferably molded or pressed to form supporting-ribs which run lengthwise and cross-wise at suitable distances apart Patented Dec. 31, 1 912.

for adding strength to the plate while pre serving its lightness and facilitating the moving and handling of the same, as will be fully described. hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

represents a plan-view of my improved elec- 'tric animal exterminator, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2, 2, Fig. 1, Fig.

3, a diagram showing the electrical connections of the positive and negativeconductors, Fig. 4, a bottom view of Fig. 1 on a small scale, and Fig. 5, an enlarged de tailed vertical section through two groups of conductors.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the foundation-plate of my improved electric animal exterminator. This plate is preferably pressed into proper. shape from a suitable insulating material and provided with intersecting strengthening. ribs (1 at the underside, so as to combine lightness In the accompanying drawings, Figure with strength. Into the foundation-plate a are embedded by means of hydraulic pressure and at a suitable distance from each.

other, tw0 sets of parallel conductors c,'c which are arranged in groups ofalternating polarity, each set being preferably formed of a plurality of conductors which are located at such distances from each other that no short-circuiting between each other and the sets or groups is possible, the distance between the two adjacent groups being preferably greater than the distance between the individual conductors of' each group. One group .of parallel conductors c is connected with the positive pole of a source of electrical energy while the intermediate group of parallel conductors is connected with the negative pole of the. source of electricity, the two groups of positive and negative conductors being connected by means of electrical connections d, (P, wih the outer ends of the groups of conductors.

For the purpose of enabling the exterminator to be more conveniently handled, cs

pecially those. of lar er size, and also to protect the face of t e principal portion with its embedded conductors against accidental injury, the insulating foundation'- plate a is made preferably of two or more sections which may be hinged together at their adjacent edges by means of hingesh, h or connected by suitable plug or other electrical connectors when the principal portion is to be of such a size toolarge to be conveniently handled in two sections or leaves. This facilitates the folding up or disassembling of the exterminator and the moving about or storing away of the same whenever required. The adjacent edges ofthe sections a, a, are provided with longitudinal grooves e molded into the adjacent edges thereof in which the leading wires 6 e for connecting the individual groups of conductbrs of alternating polarities with each other are placed as shown in the wiring diagram Fig 3. The grooves e are covered by strips e of insulating material. The ends of the grooves are connected with conductors d 03 of a suitable source of electricity so that when the same is switched in one series .of-conductors will become positive and the other negative electrodes respectively.

A lure or bait is placed either on the top of the exterminator or in suitable proximity thereto so as to attract the animals or redents. When an animal walks over the foundation-plate and touches with his feet the conductors of opposite polarities, a circuit will instantly be completed through the body of the. animal and the same be electrocuted.

The exterminator can be made of varyi sizes, according to the size of the locality in ested by animals. It is preferably opened or assembled and placed in the proper positionover night. After bait is supplied, the current is switched on. In the morning any dead animals are removed and the insulating-plate carefullycleaned of any adhering traces or smells of dead animals. The exterminator can be conveniently handled and folded up or disassembled for storage or shipment. It can be used wherever a source of electrical energy having the required voltbeing composed of a molded foundationplate of non-conducting material, groups of parallel conductors embedded into said plate, one of the alternating groups being connected by leading wires with each other and conductors for connecting the ingoing ends of the groups of conductors with the positive pole and the ingo-ing ends of the alternating groups of conductors being connected with the negative pole of a source of electrical energy.

2. An electric animal exterminator, comprising hinged sections, each composed of a molded foundation-plate of non conducting material, a plurality of series or groups of parallel conductors embedded into said plates at suitable distances from each other, grooves in the adjacent edges of the sections, leading wires arranged in said grooves and connecting the ends of the series or groups of conductors of one polarity and the ends of the alternating series or groups of conductors of the other polarity, the ingoing ends of the groups of conductors of opposite polarities being connected with a source of electrical energy.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY M. vn'r'rnnrnin' Witnesses:

PAUL Gonrnn, JOHN Mormon. 

